You probably saying to yourself Scott why do I even need a Wordpress blog... well to be more specific you need a self hosted Wordpress blog... I am not going to get into the details just know that it is essential that YOU and ONLY you control your content
If you have a blog like on Blogger, Typeface or other other blogs that are not self hosted you do not control them! Henceforth they can be shut down if they do not like you for any reason...
Youtube, Facebook are great examples as I have been kicked off and my content erased...
Cant really cry about it as its not my own videos my own content platform... however If I have a self hosted blog and self hosted videos then my traffic is secure
Without further delay lets get started
Right away I will tell you to use the Thesis theme which is the most versatile platform
You can click the image above to see all about the theme for your Wordpress blog
( These are the exact name plugins so when you search them
1. Google Privacy Policy
You are going to create a new page and copy the short code and in HTML mode and simply
put it in... done now you are compliant with Google , SEO and AdSense.
2. Terms of Use
Scroll down to terms page and then copy again the short code and go create a "Terms Of Use" page and now you are compliant
Use those first two plugins on every page and blog you create. Every Single Time
3. Akismet - This comes with Wordpress get your free API key they git a free setting and you put the key and update the options
4, GASP - Grow map and anti spam bot - check the box and put "confirm you are not a spammer" that is a extra step to prove to you that the person leaving the comment is human and not a robot.
5. Google XML Sitemap - Once you install it , it is already set up. It basically sends out signals to GOOGLE to crawl over your site and extract new content.
6. Google Analytics for Wordpress - This plugin there is a button to authenticate with google and setup a Google analytics account
7. WP Super Cache - This plugin makes your site load a lot faster! Make sure you click on the Cache on button. Go through the easy / advanced tab and click on the ones that have the (recommended) in brackets.
8. All In One SEO Pack - You got to enable it first. Your major keywords that you are looking to rank for.
9. Pretty links Lite- When you promote an affiliate often time there is a bunch of crappy code Prettylink makes it look professional and well pretty... All you do is take the crappy looking link put in what you want the link to look like and ta da...
10. Broken Link Checker - This on a blog post and sure enough you get a email that shows there is a broken linkl
11. Aweber Web Form - Aweber integration with your blog and send it out to a specific list to your readers and connect your Autoresponder to your blog. When they comment on your it prompts them opt in and build your list... offer them a free e-book. It allows a web form to be in the side bar
12. Visual Form Builder - Use for a Contact Me Page click a couple boxes and set it up so people can contact you. It comes with cool options as well... Again copy the short code create a page and paste the code in the HTML and there it is...
13. Jetpack - connect it to a Wordpress.com site... once you connect it you got some really cool features
14. Raw HTML - Two features ( Free and Paid ) Helps keeps the html corrupting and keeps the video and images from having code that does not work properly when you go from the HTML to the Visual tab.
Tip: Don't put your email anywhere on your blog as people can scrape your email and send you spam instead put in a contact box
That is the the 14 essential plugins that can help you in building your blog.
P.S if you would like to have a professional,optimized looking blog then I suggest you check out this professional blogging course..
